It should come as no surprise that the Taco Bell Cantina at 1 S. Orange Avenue [GMap] is a late-night favorite for downtown bar-goers, but it may shock you to learn that they have been the subject of 212 police calls in the past year, according to Orlando Police Department records obtained by Orlando Shine.
Between August 8, 2024, and August 4, 2025, officers responded to a wide range of incidents at the location. The most frequent calls involved suspicious persons (53 reports), general disturbances (38), and trespassing (37), some of which were isolated to incidents in the public right-of-way in front of the storefront. Other notable reports included fights, thefts, drug violations, vandalism, and even a commercial burglary.
Check out this video caught by social media account @Meanwhile_in_FL on Instagram, where the poster records what he sees downtown with his Meta Ray-Bans glasses, which have a built-in video camera, as he came across a brawl at Taco Bell.
While many of the incidents were non-violent, such as welfare checks or reports of illegally parked cars, several were more serious in nature. Police were dispatched at least three times for “battery/fight in progress” calls and five times for theft. There was also one report of a “threats/assault/armed & caution” case.
The Taco Bell Cantina, which serves alcohol and stays open late, has become both a popular hangout and, at times, a flashpoint for downtown police activity. Police data show that the Cantina’s busiest months for calls tend to align with weekends, holidays, and special downtown events, when the area is most crowded.
Check out these charts to see for yourself, which are based on data secured from the City of Orlando earlier this week.
